Hamas swears revenge for killings

Hamas has said the shooting dead of one of its senior officials will not go unpunished.

Last night in Hebron, Israeli troops shot dead Abdullah Qawasmeh. Another Palestinian was shot dead near the Israeli settlement of Morag in the southern Gaza Strip.

Hamas said the killings will "not go unpunished".

Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has hailed the killing of the top Hamas military chief in Hebron as "a successful operation".

US Secretary of State Colin Powell is to meet political leaders in the Middle East to discuss ways of salvaging the road map for peace.